[Sham]

Okay I know this may seem silly to some, and I did not think about this until I burnt my hand about 45 minutes ago and it still hurts, but what type of oven mitts do you use for those of you that drop things often. I usually use one glove and pad, but after tonight and the pain in my hand, I need two gloves. The problem is the sense of grasping is non existent. So if anyone has any advice on oven gloves you have had success with, I would appreciate it.

[Susanne C.]

I use regular oven gloves, sometimes just a dishtowel so I can get under it, but I have learned not to try and lift heavy pans myself. In fact, the weight of cookware has become an issue in purchasing new things. A heavy casserole dish or roast is very risky. I cracked a favorite Pyrex when it slipped out of my hand a few days ago as I was putting it in the dishwasher.
Do you have someone around who could help?

[Sham]

Originally Posted by Susanne C.

I use regular oven gloves, sometimes just a dishtowel so I can get under it, but I have learned not to try and lift heavy pans myself. In fact, the weight of cookware has become an issue in purchasing new things. A heavy casserole dish or roast is very risky. I cracked a favorite Pyrex when it slipped out of my hand a few days ago as I was putting it in the dishwasher.
Do you have someone around who could help?

Hey, no I don't always have someone around. Most of my bakeware, I make sure has handles, I was making monkey bread, in a loaf pan. I probably need to learn it is going to take me longer than it used to. Tough thing to swallow and wrap my mind around.

[Susanne C.]

Originally Posted by Sham

Hey, no I don't always have someone around. Most of my bakeware, I make sure has handles, I was making monkey bread, in a loaf pan. I probably need to learn it is going to take me longer than it used to. Tough thing to swallow and wrap my mind around.

A loaf pan I would probably try to use a dishtowel and squeeze the short sides. They have handles, but they are often too small to grasp in padded mitts with weakened fingers. Glass bakeware is lots heavier, and more slippery which is where I mess up.
I have three sons and a husband around most of the time but I still would rather do it myself.
I really hope that since these symptoms seem to be coming on you suddenly they can find a treatable cause. CMT is usually slow, but can take sudden jumps.

[Sham]

Originally Posted by Susanne C.

A loaf pan I would probably try to use a dishtowel and squeeze the short sides. They have handles, but they are often too small to grasp in padded mitts with weakened fingers. Glass bakeware is lots heavier, and more slippery which is where I mess up.
I have three sons and a husband around most of the time but I still would rather do it myself.
I really hope that since these symptoms seem to be coming on you suddenly they can find a treatable cause. CMT is usually slow, but can take sudden jumps.

The new neuro I am seeing, said I have had this for a long time. In the last yer and a half it has gotten. Lot worse, but I am hoping it is going to steady some. The new neuro said I have a lot of cmt symptom, but only hammer toes on one foot, extremely high arches on both feet, and weakness. He said it is not ruled out. What specific tests can they do to diagnose, blood work?

[Sham]

Originally Posted by Sham

The new neuro I am seeing, said I have had this for a long time. In the last yer and a half it has gotten. Lot worse, but I am hoping it is going to steady some. The new neuro said I have a lot of cmt symptom, but only hammer toes on one foot, extremely high arches on both feet, and weakness. He said it is not ruled out. What specific tests can they do to diagnose, blood work?

Sorry about all the typos, not sure what happened.

[Kitt]

Originally Posted by Sham

The new neuro I am seeing, said I have had this for a long time. In the last yer and a half it has gotten. Lot worse, but I am hoping it is going to steady some. The new neuro said I have a lot of cmt symptom, but only hammer toes on one foot, extremely high arches on both feet, and weakness. He said it is not ruled out. What specific tests can they do to diagnose, blood work?

They can do DNA blood testing which is very expensive. As of 2008 there were 50 types of CMT identified so far and no end in sight. Just because you do not test positive for CMT does not mean that you do not have a type that you can test for.

Any family history of the symptoms you are experiencing? CMT symptoms vary greatly even within the same family. You can be young, old, or in-between before symptoms might become evident. Or you might not have any evident symptoms but can pass it on if you carry it.

Not every CMTer has hammer toes, extremely high arches and the like. I do not. CMT is progressive no matter what you do. There is no cure/treatment for it at this time. Hope you find an answer.

[Susanne C.]

I have a lot of trouble with typos sometimes too! Honestly a lot of your symptoms sound like CMT. There is a series of blood tests available from Athena labs, you probably have to have the whole panel done, and even then it is not conclusive because there are variants that are not tested for as yet, and a certain margin of error. On the HNPP test it was 15%. It is very expensive, but your insurance may cover it.
My local neurologist sent me to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion, he did an EMG/NCS and ordered the test for HNPP, offered the rest of the panel and a spinal tap, but agreed that further testing was pointless since there isn't any treatment for CMT. I was okay with that, but I can certainly understand if you want more closure. My son has this too, so I wish now I had had the panel done when our insurance was better.
Many doctors would just make the diagnosis of CMT on your symptoms. My doctor just kept saying "it looks like CMT" and finally "it's probably just CMT" when she sent me on my way. She told me there was nothing that could be done and no reason for me to continue seeing her.
My family history is confusing because I am illegitimate but my half sister wore leg braces from childhood, my father drank to kill the pain and couldn't get out of chairs or use his hands very well. He fell when a child on a trolley track and lost several fingers but his abilities were remarkable when he was young and definitely dropped off as he got older. So many people blame arthritis or aging which complicates getting a clear history.
CMT affects everyone differently and some doctors believe it isn't painful or disabling, both of which are not true. Plenty of people use canes, end up in wheelchairs, and are on pain medication. The younger you are when the symptoms start, the more it progresses, generally, but there is no real way to predict. I have had symptoms since early childhood, restless legs and clumsiness, high arches, and walked on the sides of my feet, but was just brushed off as accident prone and lazy.

I hope you get a more hopeful DX in the end.

[Susanne C.]

I was writing as Kitt posted, didn't mean to repeat the info.